Machine, anti-aircraft, and other gun



J. J. B. ARTER.

MACHINE, ANTI-AIRCRAFT, AND OTHER GUN.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8,1918.

1,334,983. Patented Mar. 30,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR.

(JOHN AR 1.]. B. ARTER.

MACHINE, ANTI-AIRCRAFT, AND OTHER GUN.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 8, I918.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN J. B. ARTER, F GREET, NEAR BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

MACHINE, ANTI-AIRCRAFT, AND OTHER GU12".

Application filed July 8, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J AMES BEDNEY An'rnn, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at James Works, Greet, near Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machine, Anti-Aircraft, and other Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention comprises improvements in machine, anti-aircraft, and other guns and refers more particularly to that class of gun which embodies a plurality of relatively divergent barrels adapted to be fired simultaneously; the object of the present invention being to provide an improved gun which may be constructed in a light form as a machine gun for use upon aircraft, or may be constructed in a heavier form for use as an anti-aircraft gun and firing a larger projectile.

According to this invention the gun embodies a plurality of barrels in combination with means for varying the angle of divergence and also means for simultaneously charging all the barrels and means for simultaneously firing them.

A gun according to this invention broadly comprises a plurality of barrels, means for varying the angle of divergence, a magazine container at the rear end of the barrels, firing mechanism, a stand, anda universal joint for supporting the gunupon the stand.

In the accompanying drawings f Figure 1 is a viewin side elevation of a gun constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is an'end view partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section and upon an enlarged scale showing a detail of the gun mounting.

Fig. 4: is a view in sectional side elevation upon anenlarged scale showing the firing mechanism and the means for varying the angle ofwdivergence of the barrels.

Fig. 5 .is a fragmentary view in section showing the means for withdrawing the cartridge after firing.

The barrels 1 are formed with spherical rear extremities 2 which fit within corresponding recesses 3 in a plate 4 attached to the breech body 5 and held in position by a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

Serial No. 243,862.

retaining ring 6 again having a similar reoess.

The angle of divergence of the barrels 1 is controlled by a sliding member 7 engaged by a central screw 8 on a rod 17 which is actuated by a pair of bevel wheels 9, 10 and graduated hand wheel 11, this sliding member 7 being connected to the barrels l by links 12 again preferably having spherical extremities 13 which engage with a corresponding recess in the slide 7 and being held by a suitable retaining'ring 14:. Each link 12 is pivotally connected at 15 to a collar 16 on a barrel'l.

The rod 17 is supported at one end in a bush 18 carried by the plate 4 and another point ofsupport is provided by a boss 19 upon the member 20 which is attached to the ring 6.

The member 20 is provided with radial arms 21, one for each barrel and at their outer ends these arms 21 are slotted at 22, which slots form radial guides for the barrels.

The barrels 1 are arranged in a circle and means are provided for simultaneously charging them, such means comprising a clip ring 23 (see Figs. 1 and 5) adapted to carry cartridges corresponding in number with the barrels of the gun, this ring 23 being inserted into the breech body 5 through a suitable opening formed by removal of the plate 241:, the whole of the cartridges 25 being pressed home into the barrel chambers while still remaining inposition in the clip 23.

while, after firing, the clip 23 and cartridges 25 are withdrawn. and may be arranged to fall out at the bottom of the breech body, or they'may be lifted out at the top.

The firing mechanism broadly comprises a ring or disk 26 carrying a series of firing pins 27, one for each cartridge, together with a striker 28 which simultaneously engages all the firing pins 27, the ring or disk 7 26 also carrying means for gripping the clip 23 and thus withdrawing the cartridges 25.

The ring 26 contains a series of hammers 29 spring receded by springs 30 and corresponding in position with the gun barrels 1, thering 26 being carried by a sliding shaft 31 the rear end of which is externally screwed at 32 and engages with a nut 83 held against axial movement and carrying bevel gear teeth 34 which are engaged by similar teeth 35 on a short shaft controlled by a hand wheel 36, so arranged that rotation of the hand wheel in the one direction will press th cartridges into position in the barrel chambers at the same time putting the hammers into position for firing, while rotation in the opposite direction will withdraw the cartridges, automatically releasing them and permitting others to be inserted in their place.

The means for withdrawing the cartridges comprises plurality of fingers 37 pivot-ed at 38 upon the periphery of the ring 26 and having hooked extremities 89 which engage with the outer periphery of the ring 23 which forms the clip "for carrying the cartridges. Thesehooked fingers 37 are pressed outwardly by springs 40 against the interior wall of the br sch body 5, this interior being, however, of two dian'ieters, the diameter at the rear 5 being greater than at the forward end o so that when the hammer ring 26 is retracted to the rear end of the breech body the fingers 37 will move outw rdly and release the cartridge clip 23, while when the rin 26 is moved forwardly the fingers o7 are pressed inwardly and will grip the clip 23 it the clip has been inserted in a suitable position. The clip 28 thus moved forwardly so as to bring the cartridges into place simultaneously with the hammer ring 26, While, after firing, the return movement of the ring 26 takes with it the clip 23 and cartridges which are released when they have reached a position where the large diameter 5 permits the fingers 37 to open.

The striker comprises a disk 28 which is adapted to simultaneously engage with the whole ot the hammers 29. This striker disk 28 is carried by a hollow shaitt ll disposed around the shaft 31 which carries the haminer ring, and when released the striker 28 is advanced by astrong spring 42 so as to sinuiiltz'meously strike the whole of the hammers 29. its receded position by a projection .43 which engages with a spring trigger 4H, the release of which serves to release the striker. Aftc-r firing, the striker 28 is receded with the hammer ring 26, being automatically locked in its receded'position when it engages with the trigger it.

The gun is preferably mounted so as to be capable of angular movement both in horizontal and vertical planes. The breech body 5 is provided with a downwardly projecting spigot portion which engages with a corresponding socket 4.6 in a member which is held against movement in a horizontal. plane, being locked by a cam 4:? controlled by a suitable lever 48.

This socket member 4:6 is also provided The striker 28 is normally held in with a horizontal spigot portion or shaft 49 which is screwed at 50 and carries a hand wheel 51, rotation of which releases a locking clutch 52 and permits the gun to be moved angularly about a horizontal axis. Th socket member 46 has an externally tapered socket member 52 which engages with a correspondingly internally tapered part 53 of the gun stand, a suitable spring 54L being disposed between these two parts which disengages them when the hand wheel is suitably rotated.

What I claim then is 1. A gun, comprising in combination a plurality of circularly-disposed barrels each having a fixed collar thereon; means for varying the angle of divergence of each barrel including a rotatable screw-threaded rod projecting between and concentrically disposed relatively to the barrels; means for rotating said rod; a screw-threaded block mounted upon said rod; radially-disposed .lin'ks, each of said links having one end pivoted on said block and having the other end pivotally secured to one of the fixed collars; amagazine container at the rear end of the barrels; firing mechanism; a stand; and a universal joint for supportingthe gun upon the stand.

2. A gun, comprising in combination a plurality of circularly disposed barrels each having a fixed collar thereon means for varying the angle of divergence 'of'e'ach barrel including a rotatable screw-threaded rod projecting between and concentrically disposed relatively to the barrels; means for rotating said rod, comprising a pair of bevel wheels and a graduated hand wheel for operating them 'a screw -threaded block mounted upon said rod; radiallvrlisposed links, each of said links having one end pivoted on said block and having the other end pivotally secured to one of the fixed collars: a magazine container at the rear end of the barrels; firing mechanism; a stand; and a universal joint for supporting the gun upon the stand.

3. A gun comprising in combination a plurality of circularly disposed barrels; means for varying the angle of divergence of each barrel. including a rotatable screwthreaded rod projecting between and concentrically disposed relatively to the barrels; means for rotating said rod a screw-threaded block mounted upon said rocl; radiallydisposed links each pivoted at one end to said block and at the other end pivotally secured to one of the fixed collars; a magazinc container at the rear 'end of the barrels; firing mechanism; means 'for withdrawing cartridges "from. the barrels; a stand; and a universal joint for supporting the gun upon the stand. g

4:, A gun comprising in combination a plurality of circularly disposed barrels;

means for varying the angle of divergence of each barrel includlng a rotatable screwthreaded rod pro ecting between and con- Vcentrically disposed relatively to the barrels; means for rotating said rod; a screwthreadcd block mounted upon said rod; radially-disposed links each pivoted at one end to said block and at the other end pivotally secured to one of the fixed collars; a magazine container at the rear end of the barrels; firing mechanism including a disk having a number of recesses equal to the number of barrels and similarly spaced; each recess containing a spring pressed firing pin; means for moving said disk up to or away from the rear ends of the barrels; means for operating the firing pins; a stand; and a universal joint for supporting the gun upon the stand.

5. A gun comprising in combination a plurality, of circularly disposed barrels; means for varying the angle of divergence of each barrel including a rotatable screwthreaded rod projecting between and concentrically disposed relatively to the barrels; means for rotating said rod; a screwthreaded block mounted upon said rod; radially-disposed links each pivoted at one end to said block and at the other end pivotally secured to one of the fixed collars; a magazine container at the rear end of the barrels; firing mechanism including a disk having a number of recesses equal to the number of barrels and similarly spaced; each recess containing a spring pressed firing pin; means for moving said disk up to or away from the rear ends of the barrels; means for operating the firing pins; means for withdrawing cartridges from the barrels: a stand; and a universal joint for supporting the 41111 upon the stand.

6. A gun comprising in combination a plurality of barrels; means for varying the angle of divergence; a magazine container at the rear end of the barrels; firing mechanism including a disk having a number of recesses equal to the number of barrels and similarly spaced; each recess containing a spring pressed firing pin; means for moving said disk up to or away from the rear ends of the barrels; means for operating the firing pins; means for withdrawing cartridges from the barrels including a plurality of spring pressed extracting fingers pivoted to said disk and contacting with the interior wall of a breach chamber surrounding said disk; said wall having two portions of different diameters allowing said extracting fingers to move outwardly when the disk is moved back from the barrels; a stand; and a universal joint for supporting the gun upon the stand.

7. A gun comprising in combination a plurality of barrels; means for varying the angle of divergence including a member between the barrels; means "for moving same parallel to the barrels; links connecting each barrel to said member; a magazine container at the rear end of the ba "rels; firing mechanism including a disk having a number of recesses equal to the number of barrels and similarly spaced; each recess containing a spring pressed firing pin; means for moving said disk up to or away from the rear ends of the barrels; means for operating the firing pins; means for withdrawing cartridges from the barrels including a plurality of spring pressed extracting fingers pivoted to said disk and contacting with the interior wall of a breech chamber surrounding said disk; said wall having two portions of different diameters allowing said extracting fingers to move outwardly when the disk is moved back from the barrels; a stand; and a universal joint for supporting the gun upon the stand.

8. A gun, comprising in combination a plurality of circularly-disposed barrels pivotally mounted in the breech chamber, each barrel having a fixed collar thereon; radial guides for said barrels; means for varying the angle of divergence of each barrel, including a rotatable screw-threaded rod projecting between and concentrically disposed relative to the barrels; means for rotating said rod; a screw-threaded block mounted upon the rod; radially-disposed links each pivoted at one end to said block and having the other end pivotally secured to one of the fixed collars on said barrels; a magazine container at the rear end of the barrels; firing mechanism; a stand; and a universal joint for supporting the gun upon the stand.

9. A gun comprising in combination a plurality of circularly disposed barrels; means for varying the angle of divergence of each barrel including a member between the barrels; means for moving same parallel to the barrels; links connecting each barrel to said member; a magazine container at the rear end of the barrels; firing mechanism including a disk having a number of recesses equal to the number of barrels and similarly spaced; each recess containing a spring pressed firing pin; means 1301' moving said disk up to or away from the rear ends of the barrels; means for operating the firing pins including a striker consisting of a disk hav ing a rearward sleeve-like extension; a projection on said extension; a trigger engaging said projection; a spring to move the striker into contact with the firing pins when the trigger is released from said projection; a stand; and a universal joint for supporting the gun upon the stand.

10. A gun comprising in combination a plurality of barrels; means for varying the angle of divergence; a magazine container at the rear end of the barrels; firing mechanism including a disk having a number of recesses equal to the number of barrels and similarly spaced; each recess containing a spring pressed firing pin; means for moving said disk up to or away from the rear ends of the barrels including a screw threaded rod Working in a stationary nut; a hand Wheel for rotating said rod; means for operating the firing pins; a stand; and a universal joint for supporting the gun upon 10 JOHN J. B. ARTER. 

